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Compare Isle of Man (2004) - Latvia (2004)

Compare Isle of Man (2004) z Latvia (2004)

 Isle of Man (2004)Latvia (2004)
 Isle of ManLatvia
Administrative divisions none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Age structure 0-14 years: 17.4% (male 6,669; female 6,357)


15-64 years: 65.4% (male 24,527; female 24,302)


65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,128; female 7,672) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 15% (male 177,223; female 169,241)


15-64 years: 69.2% (male 772,496; female 823,410)


65 years and over: 15.8% (male 118,035; female 245,901) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 51 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 27


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 16 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 24


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 20 (2003 est.)
Area total: 572 sq km


land: 572 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than West Virginia
Background Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Birth rate 11.28 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 8.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $485 million


expenditures: $463 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY00/01 est.)
revenues: $3.691 billion


expenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Capital Douglas Riga
Climate temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about one-third of the time maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 160 km 531 km
Constitution unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act, 1961, does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution 15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Isle of Man
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Manx pound Latvian lat (LVL)
Death rate 11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 13.73 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external NA $6.793 billion (2003 est.)
Dependency status British crown dependency -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (British crown dependency) chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine Todd-Bailey


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 782-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US none (British crown dependency) chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS


chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Disputes - international none the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Economic aid - recipient NA $96.2 million (1995)
Economy - overview Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets. Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.
Electricity - consumption - 6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production - 4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m


highest point: Snaefell 621 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Environment - current issues waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ethnic groups Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Exchange rates Manx pounds per US dollar - 0.6125 (2003), 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound lati per US dollar - 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000), 0.5852 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Ian MACFADYEN (since 26 October 2002)


head of government: Chief Minister Donald GELLING (since 14 December 2004)


cabinet: Council of Ministers


elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected by the Tynwald; election last held 14 December 2004 (next to be held NA December 2010)


election results: Donald GELLING elected chief minister by the Tynwald; note - Richard CORKILL resigned 2 December 2004
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Exports NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners UK (2000) UK 15.6%, Germany 14.8%, Sweden 10.5%, Lithuania 8.2%, Estonia 6.6%, Denmark 6%, Russia 5.4% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 13%


services: 86% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 24.5%


services: 70.9% (2003)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 13.5% 7.4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 54 15 N, 4 30 W 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Highways total: 800 km


paved: 800 km


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies, exchange firms, and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
Imports NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities timber, fertilizers, fish machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners UK (2000) Germany 16.1%, Lithuania 9.7%, Russia 8.7%, Finland 7.4%, Estonia 6.4%, Sweden 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, Italy 4.4% (2003)
Independence none (British crown dependency) 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 3.2% (FY96/97) 8% (2003 est.)
Industries financial services, light manufacturing, tourism buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Infant mortality rate total: 6.05 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.08 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 9.67 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.6% (March 2003 est.) 2.9% (2003 est.)
International organization participation UPU Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor) Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force 36,610 (1998) 1.18 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture, forestry and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%, entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10% agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use arable land: 9%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)
arable land: 29.67%


permanent crops: 0.47%


other: 69.86% (2001)
Languages English, Manx Gaelic Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Legal system English common law and Manx statute based on civil law system
Legislative branch bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (an 11-member body composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Keys - last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Man Labor Party 17.3%, Alliance for Progressive Government 14.6%; seats by party - Man Labor Party 2, Alliance for Progressive Government 3, independents 19
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.16 years


male: 74.8 years


female: 81.7 years (2004 est.)
total population: 70.86 years


male: 65.91 years


female: 76.09 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine total: 226 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,055,436 GRT/9,972,459 DWT


by type: bulk 25, cargo 40, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 2, container 19, liquefied gas 31, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 59, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 17, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5


foreign-owned: Australia 3, Cyprus 4, Denmark 30, Estonia 3, France 1, Germany 57, Greece 8, Hong Kong 11, Iceland 1, Italy 6, Monaco 4, Netherlands 2, New Zealand 1, Norway 10, Singapore 2, Sweden 3, United Kingdom 80, United States 1


registered in other countries: 9 (2004 est.)
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT


by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1


foreign-owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Ukraine 1


registered in other countries: 96 (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 594,596 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 466,659 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 19,209 (2004 est.)
National holiday Tynwald Day, 5 July Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)


adjective: Manx
noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
Natural hazards NA NA
Natural resources none peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Net migration rate 5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Man Labor Party [leader NA]; Alliance for Progressive Government [leader NA]; Man Nationalist Party [leader NA]


note: most members sit as independents
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; First Party of Latvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs]; Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Union for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; United Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP
Political pressure groups and leaders none Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
Population 74,655 (July 2004 est.) 2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA
Population growth rate 0.53% (2004 est.) -0.71% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways total: 61 km (35 km electrified) (2003) total: 2,303 km


broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2003)
Religions Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female


total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system


international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Telephones - main lines in use 51,000 (1999) 653,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 1,219,600 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999) 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain hills in north and south bisected by central valley low plain
Total fertility rate 1.65 children born/woman (2004 est.) 1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 0.7% (March 2003) 8.6% (2003 est.)
Waterways - 300 km (2004)
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